Switch structure



Patented Nov. 12, 1940 SWITCH STRUCTURE John W. Samzelius, lPittsburgh, Pa., assignor to i Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiicationnecember 23, 193s, serial No. 247,425

9 Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to switch structures and more particularly to enclosed switches, commonly known as safety switches, in which it is customary to mount the switches and fuses on an insulating base and to secure the vbase in a metal box.

For certain kinds of switches it is desirable to utilize a single pole base assembly in which the base is molded of porcelain or other suitable insulating material. One dilculty encountered with a single pole base assembly is the mounting of the base on the sheet metal bottom of the cabinet, since the only space available forA the retaining bolts is between the break jaw and the hinge jaw of the switch underneath the switch blade. On the ordinary switch the space between the switch jaws is wide enough for only one bolt, which is not suiiicient to keep the base from turning in the cabinet when utilized in the usual manner.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a switch structure which shall be simple and eiiicient in operation and which may be readily and economically manufactured and installed. n

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for retaining a switch base in position by means of a single mounting bolt.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-locking and self-aligning mounting bracket for a switch base.

A further object of my invention is to provide for securing the mounting bracket to the switch cabinet.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a resilient mounting for a switch base.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, an insulating switch base is supported by a mounting bracket which is secured to a wall of a switch cabinet. The mounting bracket is so made that the base is securely held in Vposition by a single bolt which is threaded into a bushing that retains the bracket in position and prevents both the base and the bracket from turning in the cabinet. In other embodiments of the invention, the mounting bracket is secured tothe cabinet wall by means other than the mounting bolt and its cooperating bushing.

For a fuller understanding .oi the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the `following detailed description, taken in (Cl. ZOO- 168) conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a switch structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in plan, of a bushing member utilized in the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a modification of the invention shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a similar View of another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, the switch structure shown therein comprises a sheet metal cabinet,only a portion of one wall I0 of which is shown, a switch base I I composed of porcelain orLother suitable insulating material, a switch blade I2 which is hinged to a hinge jaw I3 and engages a break jaw I4 to complete an electrical circuit in the usual manner, terminal members I5 and I6 for making the proper electrical connections to the jaws I3 and I4, respectively,l a bracket I'I for supporting the insulating base Ii, ,a bushing I8 for securing the bracket I'l to the cabinet wallv I0 and a bolt I9 which is threaded intov the bush.

ing IB to secure the base II in the bracket Il.

In order that basel I I may be securely held in position -by means of the single retaining bolt I9, the base is provided with a projecting lug having shoulders 2I and 22, as shown. The bracket I'I is made from a sheet metal plate by lancing out and bending up. a. pair of arms or tongues 23 and 2dv which are disposed to engage the shoulders 2| and 22, respectively, of -the base II. l

The cabinet wall I0 and the bracket II are provided with rectangular openings in which the rectangular bushing I8 is inserted. The bushing I8 may be turned from a rectangular bar to pro- Vide a flange 25 on two sides'at one end of the bushing, but leaving the body essentially rectangular as shown in Fig. 2. The bushing is made slightly longer thanthe combined thickness of the cabinet wall I0 and the bracket Il `and can, therefore, be locked in place by riveting over or upsetting the top of the bushing. The bolt I9 is threaded into the bushing to secure the base II in the clamp I1 between the arms 23 and 24.

It will be'seen that when the bolt I9 is tightened, the porcelain base II isplaced under compression and the arms 23 andZII` are so disposed that theyv produce a bending moment on the base which opposes the bending .moment caused .by

-34 of the bracket I'I.

tightening the bolt I9. Furthermore, the bushing I8 is securely held in position when the bolt I9 is tightened and there is no danger of the bushing coming out of the sub-base or the bracket II loosening. By making the holes in the wall IB and the bracket I'I rectangular and close fitting for the bushing, the bracket I'I and thus the porcelain base II will be accurately located without the use of jigs or xtures when assembling the switch structure.

With this method of assembly, the cabinet and bracket Il may be painted separately before assembly. There is no spot Welding or riveting involved. Therefore, the tapped hole in the bushing I8 will not be clogged up by paint or enamel as is the case with apparatus in which holes are provided in the cabinet for mounting the apparatus in the cabinet, since the holes frequently become clogged with paint, thereby making it necessary to re-tap the mounting holes when the apparatus is assembledin the cabinet.

As explained hereinbefore, the present structure requires vonly one mounting bolt for securing the switch in position in the cabinet and this bolt may be located substantially at the midpoint of the porcelain betweenthe hinge jaw and the break jaw of the switch where it is made readily accessible by merely opening the plate I2 of the switch. Furthermore, it is possible to so design the clamp or bracket Il that the bending moments produced in the porcelain will cancel, thereby eliminating all tensile stresses in the porcelain.

Furthermore, breakage of the porcelain base by shock or. blows-on the cabinet is precluded since the base is so supported by the bracket II that it is not in direct contact with the Wall I0 of the cabinet.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the insulating base I vI and the switch structure are essentially the same as shown in Fig. 1. The cabinet wall IZ] is provided With raised or rib portions 26 on which the bracket I'I rests. The bracket I1 may be secured to the wall I0 by spot welding or riveting the bracket to the raised portions 26 of the wall I0 at points 21, as shown. The bracket Il is provided with a'n opening 28 which is threaded to receive the bolt I9, thereby securing the base II between the arms 23and 24 ofthe bracket I'I. The arms 23 and 24 function in the same manner as hereinbefore described to engage the base II when the 'bolt I 9 is tightened.

Likewise, the switch I2 and the jaws I3 and I4, shown in the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, are similar to those hereinbefore described. However, in this form of the invention the insulating base II is provided with a recess 29 having shoulders 3I and 32 engaged by the oppositely disposed arms 33 and In this case, the arms 33 and 34 are formed by merely bending upwardly the end portions of thebracket II.

The bracket I1 may be welded to the raised portions 2S of the cabinet wall IIJ at the points 21, as explained with reference to Fig. 3. The kbolt I9 is threaded into the opening 28 provided in the central portion of the bracket I'I which may be re-enforced by a threaded member 35, if desired.

It will be seen that the arms 33 and 34 of the -bracket I1 are deflected downwardly to engage the shoulders 3I and 32, respectively, when the bolt I9 is tightened, thereby securely holding the base II to the bracket I'I. Furthermore,.on1y one bolt is required to hold the base II in position which, as hereinbefore explained, facilitates the manufacture and assembly of switch structures, particularly those in which single pole units are utilized,

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a simple and economical means of mounting switch structures'on supporting walls or in enclosed cabinets which permits the use of either single or multiple pole switch units, as may be desired. Furthermore, the danger of breakage of porcelain switch bases is precluded by the use of the present switch mounting.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction and dilferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawing,` shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch structure, in combination, a supporting wall, an insulating base having projecting shoulders, a bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed arms for engaging the shoulders on said base to space the base away from the wall, and

means extending through said base into said bracket for securing said base to said bracket at a single point, said bracket being secured to said supporting wall.

2. In a switch structure, in combination, a

supporting wall, an insulating base having projecting shoulders, a bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed arms for engaging the shoulders on said base to space .the base away from the wall, and means extending through said base into said bracket for removably securing said base to said bracket at a single point, said bracket being secured to said supporting wall.

3. In a switch structure, in combination, a supporting wall, an insulating base, a bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed upwardly extending arms for engaging said base to maintain the base and the Wall in spaced relation, and means disposed in said base between the arms of said bracket for removably securing the base to the bracket, said bracket being secured to said supporting Wall.

4. In a switch structure, in combination, a supporting wall, an insulating base, a bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed arms for engaging said base to space the base away from the Wall, and. means disposed in said base substantially midway between the arms of said bracket for removably securing the base to the bracket, said bracket being secured to said supporting wall between said arms.

5. In a switch structure, in combination, a sheet metal support, an insulating base, a sheet metal bracket for resiliently supporting said base,

said bracket having oppositely disposed upwardly extending arms for engaging said base to maintain the base and the support in spaced relation, means disposed in said base substantially midway between the arms of said bracket for removably securing the base in the bracket, and means disposed in said support for securing said bracket to said support.

6. In a switch structure, in combination, a sheet metal support, an insulatingbase, a sheet metal bracket for supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed upwardly extending arms for engaging said base, means disposed in said supportfor securing said bracket to said support, and means disposed in said base and engaging the means in said support to secure said base in said bracket.

'7. In a switch structure, in combination, a sheet metal support, an insulating base, a sheet metal bracket for supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed arms for engaging said base, a bushing disposed in said support for securing said bracket to said support, said bushing having a threaded opening therein, and a bolt removably threaded into said bushing to secure said base in said bracket.

8. In a switch structure, in combination, a sheet metal support, an insulating base, a sheet metal bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed upwardly extending arms for engaging said base to maintain the base and the support in spaced relation, and a single means disposed in said base substantially midway between the arms of said bracket and engaging said bracket to secure the base in the bracket, said bracket being secured to said support. l

9. In a switch structure, in combination, a sheet metal support, an insulating base having a recess inthe bottom thereof, a sheet metal bracket for resiliently supporting said base, said bracket having oppositely disposed upwardly eX- tending arms for engaging the sides of said recess in the base to maintain the base and the support in spaced relation, and a single means disposed in said base substantially midway beltween the arms of said bracket and engaging said bracket to secure the base in the bracket, said bracket being secured to said support.

JOHN W. SAMZELIUS. 

